Bullet-machine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1. W.-H. WARD.

, Making Bullets.

No. 18.616. Patented N'ov.-10, 1857.

' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. H. WARD.

Making Bullets.

Patented Nov. 10, 1857.

UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. ARD, OF AUBURN, NEX" YORK.

BULLET-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent N 0. 18,616, dated November 10, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, H. WARD, of Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bullet-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and ex act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which v Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a bullet machine embracing my improvements. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal and sectional elevation through the center of the machine. Fig. 3 represents a vertical transverse section in front of dies. Fig. 4 represents a vertical transverse section in front of compressing forceps. Fig. 5 represents a vertical transverse section in front of cut ting forceps. Fig. 6 represents a horizontal section through the center of the die plate. Fig. 7 represents a plan of one half of the die.

My improvements relate to that class of these machines in which the bullet is made from leaden wire by compression. In the most perfect heretofore used, pieces are successively cut off from the leaden wire or fillet, as it is fed toward the die, by which each of these pieces is successively formed into a bullet; but in none of the machines as heretofore constructed has it been found possible to make a perfect, sharp-pointed, conical, ribbed bullet with a conical recess in its base, whose axis coincides with the axis of the bullet, and whose external surface is perfectly round, the bullet being,"in all cases,

obliged to pass through a secondary process,

called scaling, in order to remove a fin, left by the forming die, on its external surface. So unequal in size, so imperfectly balanced, andso much out of round are these bullets that, when required for trial or experimental practice they are also obliged to pass through a milling process to correct these defects, which arise from the irregularity in size and density of the wire, and from the imperfect action of the cutting mechanism which does not divide it into exact lengths. It is owing to irregularities in the blanks, many of them being too large, that the dies are severely strained andopened at the joints, so that a fin is left longitudinally around, and the form of the die rendered so imperfect that the bullets are not round. Another source of defect arises from inadequate support for the punch, while forcing when it leaves the inachine.

My improvements for accomplishing this object consist: First, in arranging and operating the mechanism which feeds the wire to the forceps in such a manner that it receives a positive motion backward, which always carries it back to a certain point, and, an independent motion forward, whose distance is regulated by the length of .the wire re quired for the next blank, which depends upon the density, perfection, and size of the wire; by which means only the length of the wire required for each successive blank is fed to the forceps, thereby avoiding overfeeding the machine, which would render the wire liable to become entangled with and stop the machine, or to be cut or bent into short crooks. Second, in varying the forward motion of the feeding clamp, while the limit of the backward motion remains unchanged by means of an adjustable pin or stop in connection with the wire and the mechanism which carries the wire forward. Third, in compressing each blank, before it is severed from the wire, by compressing forceps; by which means the diameter and density of the blanks are rendered uniform, and the surplus lead is forced back on the wire and used in the next blank. Fourth,

in grasping the blank throughout its entire length and holding it immovable, during its process of being cut off from the wire, by one pair of forceps; and also grasping and holding the wire securely, so that it cannot slip, at the point at which it is severed by a second pair of movable and cutting forceps, by which, during the operation of dividing the wire, no portion of the lead forming the blank will be withdrawn from the first pair of forceps; and a perfectly smooth and clean cut will be made without indenting or compressing the wire, and thus each blank will be of uniform length and weight, which is indispensibly necessary in order to form a perfect bullet. Fifth, in arranging an oil box around the wire, in front of the cutting nipples, by which means the wire is supported and prevented from bending close to the forceps, on their upward movement, and the bend made in the wire by this movement is taken out as it passes through the oil box as well as the outer surface oiled. Sixth, in discharging the bullet by means of a collar surrounding the punch, against which, on the withdrawal of the punch from the die, the base of the bullet strikes, and the bullet is discharged from the point of the punch. Seventh, in arranging the forceps, and the direction in which they open, so that the joint between the jaws of one pair will not be in the same plane as the joint between the jaws of the other pair, in order more perfectly to equalize the size of the blanks. Eighth, in arranging a groove around and near the edges of the cavity, in the die, for the passage of air as it is forced out of the die during the process of compressing the blanks; by which means a direct opening into the sides or point of this cavity is avoided, through which lead escapes, and thus prevents a perfect bullet being formed. Ninth, in making the opening, through which the blank passes into the die, of the exact diameter of the punch and the blank, and less than the base or transverse diameter of the bullet, and of suflicient length to afford permanent support to the punch during the entire operation of compressing the blank, by which means the blank is accurately centered as it enters the die, the axis of a conical recess made in the base of the bullet coincides with the axis of the bullet, and a cavity is left within the die around the blank, into which the metal is received, which is forced back from the front end of the blank as it enters the conical point of the die, and also the metal which is forced outward from the blank in forming the conical recess in the base of the bullet. Thus less power is required to force the blank into the die and form the bullet. Tenth, in constructing the dies with a solid annular base, thus forming an unyielding annular gage which insures regularity in the length of the bullet and gives a perfect finish to its base whereas when the base of the bullet is formed by the punch the length of the bullet is subject to variation from the yielding of the punch. Eleventh, in forming bullets of varying weight of the same base and length, without changing the punches or dies; by constructing the die with an annular projecting base, so that a conical pointed punch may be made to enter the blank a greater or less distance, and thus expand it so as to fill the die by vary ing the size of the conical recess in the base of the bullet with the length of the blank.

In the accompanying drawings a double acting bullet machine, embracing my improvements, is represented. A strong rectangular frame (A) supports the stationary a cam shaft (C) that gives motion to the different parts.

A die plate (D) is located and firmly secured at each end of the frame. Each die consists of two rectangular steel blocks, in each of whose adjacent faces is a cavity (a) Fig. 7 corresponding to the reverse of the form of a semi-conical grooved bullet, divided longitudinally and in line with its axis, and which, when closed, forms a cavity whose configuration is the reverse of the bullet. A circular opening (6) is made, between the two pieces forming the die, into the base of this cavity, in line with its axis, of less diameter than the base of the bullet, leaving an annular base (0) to the die, which forms a solid and unyielding wall to gage the length and form the base of the bullet. Through this opening the lead blank is forced into the die (T) by a punch (cl) which receives its motion through a punch bar (E) moved by the cam shaft.

The punch (d) is attached to the punch bar in any convenient manner; and is turned to accurately fit the opening into the die The form of the point is conical, slightly concave in its longitudinal direction, and at the base of the cone, where it meets the cylindrical part of the punch, a reverse curve is given to it. The dies are received within a recess (e) in front of the die plate (D) and are supported by, and traverse on V shaped guides (f) at the top and bottom of the recess, and also have dowel pins (g) in their faces in order to insure their closing with perfect accuracy.

An opening through the die plate, on each side of the die, receives a wedge (F) which closes the die and holds it immovable while the bullet is being formed. These wedges extend beyond the rear of the die plate (D) and their outer ends are connected together by a cross bar (G) in whose center is a projecting wedge which passes through an opening in the back of the die plate (D) and enters between the two pieces forming the die, forcing it open for the purpose of re leasing the bullet on the retrograde motion of the wedges. These wedges (F) are connected at their inner ends to bars (H) (H) which derive their motion from the cam shaft (C).

A pair of holding and sizing forceps (I) for compressing and sizing the blanks are pivoted at their lower ends to the die plate and stand in a vertical position and in line with the center of the die. In each jaw of the forceps is a curved recess, with a steel face, which forms when the forceps are closed, a circular opening (21) of the exact diameter required to form the blank the jaws of the first pair of forceps.

for the bullet, and also the exact size of the opening into the dies.

A set screw (is) passes through the flange of the cap of the die plate, and is secured by a set nut, and enters the opening in the forceps, which it accurately fits, and forms an adjustable stop to gage the length of the blank.

Between the forceps and dies is a tube or collar (Z) Fig. 4 which is in line with, and of the same size as, the opening in the die, forming a conductor for the blank with the dies, and also a discharger for releasing the bullet from the point of the punch. To the under side of this collar (Z) is attached a U shaped spring (m) for opening the forceps. This spring (m) is received between the arms of the forceps and extends from the joint to the under sides of the jaws, forming a guide and retainer to conduct the blank from the jaws of the forceps to the mouth of the collar, through which it is forced into the dies.

A horizontal lever (J for closing the forceps, is pivoted to the cap of the die plate, and on the under side of this lever is a curved notch which grasps the top of the forceps and closes the jaws on the descent of the leverand, as the lever rises, the spring (m) opens the jaws. In front of the compressing forceps (I) and bearing against it, is a pair of cutting and grasping forceps (K) for holding the wire and preventing it from slipping during the process of severing the blank from the wire. These forceps consist of two horizontal bars, the upper one (11) of which is pivoted at the same point as the closing lever (J) for the first pair of forceps, and extends across the frame and passes through a guide (39) which holds it close to the face of the compressed forceps, and rests upon a stand with which it is kept in contact by a spiral spring (1"). On the under side of this bar is a semicircular cavity )-which coincides with the upper half of the circular opening in the first pair of forceps. The lower bar (0) is hinged to the upper bar (71/) on the sideopposite the stand, and has on its upper surface a semi-circular cavity corresponding with the one in the upper bar, so that when the jaws are closed, a circular opening (8) also faced with steel, is left between them; which is directly opposite to, and corresponds in size with, the opening in A bridge (L) extends between and is secured to the sides of the frame in front of the forceps, and in this bridge are a series of openings for the purpose of guiding and steadying the punch and wedge-bars Two arches (M) span the frame longitudinally-their feet resting upon and bolted to the sides or top of the frame. These arches support reels (N) on which the leaden wire, from which the bullets are made, is wound. This wire passes through a tubular guide (0) suspended from the arch, which gives it support and prevents it from bending; thence through a feeding and oil tube to the forceps. This feeding tube consists of a straight tube (t) with a portion of its upper surface removed, leaving an opening in the top, which is partially filled by a curved palm (u) that is hinged to a link (1)) whose upper end is also hinged to a bracket (w) projecting above and attached to, the sides of the tube. This link ('0) allows the palm (u) to move a short distance forward and back in the opening, rising as it moves forward, and releasing the wire in the tube, and descending as it moves back, clasping the wire to the tube, by which means, on the backward motion of the feeding tube, the palm is raised and the wire released; and on its forward motion the palm descends and clamps the wire to the tube. The feeding tube (t) is attached to a lever (w) whose upper end is fastened to one of the arches, and to the lower end of this lever one end of a spring (3 is attachedits other end being confined to the frame.

A stud (2) projecting from the side of the punch bar acts upon the lower end of the feeding lever, carries it back to a given point on its retrograde motion, and on the forward motion of the punch, the feeding bar is. relieved from the action of the stud, and is carried forward, independent of the stud, with the feeding tube by the spiral spring (3 until the wire strikes the sett seven in the botton of the compressing forceps, which arrest its further forward motion. On the backward motion of the punch the stud which had passed beyond the forward range of the feeding lever (m) again strikes it and carries it back to its first position. Thus a positive backward motion is given to the feeding mechanism; and a forward motion whose distance is regulated by the length of the wire required to form the blank, so that there is no liability of over feeding the machine.

The oil tube (a) is a short hollow cylinder whose interior surface is greater than that of the wire, and the space between the interior surface and the wire is filled with cotton waste, for the absorbtion of the oil which is supplied by a cup (6) on its top. In arranging the oil tube around the wire in front of the cutting forceps, support is given to the wire so that the bend made in it by the upward movement of the cutting forceps is carried back of the oil box, and the crook formed in the wire by this movement of the forceps is straightened, as well as its entire surface oiled, as it passes through the tube to the cutting nippers. The wire, which is slightly larger than the opening in the for- 

